2025 Gloucestershire County Council election|
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|
|
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First party
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Second party
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Third party
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|
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LD
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Ref
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Grn
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| Leader
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Lisa Spivey
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none
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Cate Cody (retiring)
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| Party
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Liberal Democrats
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Reform UK
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Green
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| Last election
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16 seats, 24.8%
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0 seats, 0.2%
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4 seats, 13.0%
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| Seats before
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16
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0
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4
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| Seats won
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27
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11
|
9
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| Seat change
|
11
|
11
|
5
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| Popular vote
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49,565
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45,904
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27,110
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| Percentage
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27.2%
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25.2%
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14.9%
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| Swing
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2.4 pp
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25.0 pp
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1.9 pp
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|
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Fourth party
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Fifth party
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Sixth party
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|
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Con
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Lab
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Ind
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| Leader
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Stephen Davies
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John Bloxsom (defeated)
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none
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| Party
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Conservative
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Labour
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Independent
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| Last election
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28 seats, 43.9%
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5 seats, 15.4%
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0 seat, 2.2%
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| Seats before
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26
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5
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1
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| Seats won
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6
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1
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1
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| Seat change
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20
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4
|
|
| Popular vote
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37,815
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15,432
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5,079
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| Percentage
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20.8%
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8.5%
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2.8%
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| Swing
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23.1 pp
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6.9 pp
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0.6 pp
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|
 Winner of each seat at the 2025 Gloucestershire County Council election. |
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The 2025 Gloucestershire County Council election took place on 1 May 2025 to elect members to Gloucestershire County Council in England.[1] New boundaries applied and 55 seats were elected, two more than previously. This occurred on the same day as other local elections. The council was under no overall control prior to the election, being run by a Conservative minority administration. Following the election, the council remained under no overall control, but with the Liberal Democrats as the largest party. A minority Liberal Democrat administration subsequently formed to run the council.
Background
In the 2021 election, the Conservatives won 28 seats, giving them a slim majority and control of the council. The Liberal Democrats were the second biggest party with 16 seats, followed by Labour with 5 seats and the Greens with 4 seats.[2]
One by-election took place between the 2021 and 2025 elections:
Conservative
By-election
| Division
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Date
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Incumbent
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Winner
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Cause
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Ref.
|
| Highnam
|
4 May 2023
|
|
Phil Awford
|
|
Paul McLain
|
Death
|
[3][4]
|
In February 2022, councillor Alastair Chambers of Coney Hill and Matson left the Conservative Party following legal proceedings alleging he had breached the Animal Welfare Act, serving the rest of his term as an independent conservative.[5] In May 2024, councillor Sue Williams of Bisley and Painswick left the Conservatives and joined the Green Party, citing disagreements on key policy positions such as the treatment of asylum seekers and the inaccessibility of the benefits system.[6] Williams' resignation reduced the Conservatives to 26 seats and brought the council into no overall control.[7] Williams rejoined the Conservatives in February 2025.[8]
In the 2024 general election, the Conservatives lost all but one of their Gloucestershire seats, retaining North Cotswolds and losing five seats to Labour, who gained Forest of Dean, Gloucester and Stroud, and the Liberal Democrats, who gained Cheltenham and Tewkesbury as well as winning the new South Cotswolds seat.[9][10] In October 2024, councillor Nick Housden of Stonehouse was suspended from the Conservative Party following undisclosed serious allegations against him, which he has denied.[11] It was claimed that he had moved to the Netherlands, but in December, Housden refused to resign and stated that he was considering standing for election again, but that he was undecided where he would run and for what party.[12][13]
The Local Government Boundary Commission for England began a review in 2023, since there was excessive variation in the number of electors per councillor. Their recommendations, which came into effect at the 2025 election, increased the number of councillors from 53 to 55 and changed the boundaries of 39 electoral divisions.[14]
Previous council composition
Changes
- February 2022: Alastair Chambers (Conservative) suspended from party[a][16]
- March 2023: Phil Awford (Conservative) dies; by-election held May 2023[17]
- May 2023: Paul McLain (Conservative) wins by-election[18]
- May 2024: Sue Williams (Conservative) joins Green Party[19]
- November 2024: Nicholas Housden (Conservative) suspended from party[20]
- February 2025: Sue Williams (Green) re-joins Conservatives;[21] David Drew (Labour) resigns – seat left vacant until 2025 election[22]
- ^ Chambers sits as part of the Independent Conservative group, which is not registered as a political party.
Summary
Prior to the election the council was under no overall control, being run by a Conservative minority administration led by Stephen Davies.[23] The council remained under no overall control following the election, but with the Liberal Democrats becoming the largest party. The Conservatives were left with just six seats, falling back to be the fourth largest party on the council after the Liberal Democrats, Reform UK and the Green Party. A minority Liberal Democrat administration formed with informal support from Labour (whose only councillor was made chairman of the council) and the Greens.[24] Liberal Democrat councillor Lisa Spivey was formally appointed as the new leader of the council at the subsequent annual council meeting on 21 May 2025.[25]
Election result
| 2025 Gloucestershire County Council election
|
| Party
|
Candidates
|
Seats
|
Gains
|
Losses
|
Net gain/loss
|
Seats %
|
Votes %
|
Votes
|
+/−
|
|
|
Liberal Democrats
|
55
|
27
|
11
|
0
|
11
|
49.1
|
27.2
|
49,565
|
+2.4
|
|
|
Reform UK
|
55
|
11
|
11
|
0
|
11
|
20.0
|
25.2
|
45,904
|
+25.0
|
|
|
Green
|
53
|
9
|
5
|
0
|
5
|
16.4
|
14.9
|
27,110
|
+1.9
|
|
|
Conservative
|
55
|
6
|
0
|
24
|
22
|
10.9
|
20.8
|
37,815
|
–23.1
|
|
|
Labour
|
55
|
1
|
0
|
4
|
4
|
1.8
|
8.5
|
15,432
|
–6.9
|
|
|
Independent
|
20
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
1.8
|
2.8
|
5,079
|
+0.6
|
|
|
Tewkesbury and Twyning Independents
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
0.0
|
0.4
|
785
|
N/A
|
|
|
TUSC
|
9
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
0.0
|
0.1
|
201
|
±0.0
|
|
|
CPA
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
0.0
|
<0.1
|
22
|
N/A
|
|
|
Socialist Labour
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
0.0
|
<0.1
|
30
|
N/A
|
|
|
Socialist (GB)
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
0.0
|
<0.1
|
25
|
N/A
|
|
|
Workers Party
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
0.0
|
<0.1
|
34
|
N/A
|
[26]
Results by district
Cheltenham
District summary
Division results
Cotswold
District summary
Division results
Forest of Dean
District summary
Division results
Gloucester
District summary
Division results
Stroud
District summary
Division results
Tewkesbury
District summary
Division results
See also
References
- ^ "Election timetable in England". Electoral Commission. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
- ^ "Gloucestershire: Conservatives retain power of county council". BBC News. 7 May 2021. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
- ^ Waterworth, Tanya (13 March 2013). "Condolences pour in for Gloucestershire County Councillor Phil Awford". Gloucestershire Live. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
- ^ "Highnam Division By-election - Thursday 4 May 2023". Gloucestershire County Council. 5 May 2023. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
- ^ Horton, Kim (3 February 2022). "Gloucester councillor to appear in court accused of breaching Animal Welfare Act regulation". Gloucestershire Live. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
- ^ Fenton, Susan (13 May 2024). "Gloucestershire Conservative councillor defects to Green Party". Stroud District Green Party. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
- ^ Rowe, Edward (13 May 2024). "Tories lose county council majority after defection". BBC News. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
- ^ Garcia, Carmelo (19 February 2025). "Sue Williams rejoins Conservative group at county council". Stroud News and Journal. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
- ^ Harcombe, Chloe (5 July 2024). "General election 2024: Key winners in the West". BBC News. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
- ^ "Your MPs". Gloucestershire County Council. July 2024. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
- ^ Garcia, Carmelo (30 October 2024). "Councillor suspended after allegations against him". BBC News. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
- ^ Garcia, Carmelo (7 November 2024). "Questions over suspended Tory councillor Nick Housden's move to the Netherlands". Gloucestershire Live. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
- ^ Garcia, Carmelo (14 December 2024). "Suspended Tory councillor Nick Housden says he won't resign". Stroud News and Journal. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
- ^ "New electoral arrangements for Gloucestershire County Council" (PDF). Local Government Boundary Commission for England. March 2024. p. 2. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
- ^ "Your Councillors". Gloucestershire County Council. 4 January 2016. Retrieved 16 March 2025.
- ^ Horton, Kim (3 February 2022). "Councillor to appear in court over animal welfare legislation". Gloucestershire Live. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
- ^ Waterworth, Tanya (13 March 2023). "Condolences pour in for Gloucestershire County Councillor Phil Awford". Gloucestershire Live. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
- ^ "Local Elections Archive Project — Highnam Division". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
- ^ "Gloucestershire Conservatives lose council majority". BBC News. 13 May 2024. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
- ^ Garcia, Carmelo (7 November 2024). "Questions over suspended Tory Nick Housden's move to the Netherlands". Gloucestershire Live. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
- ^ Garcia, Carmelo (19 February 2025). "Why leading Tory councillor in Stroud area rejoins party". Stroud News and Journal. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
- ^ Garcia, Carmelo (27 February 2025). "Ex-MP David Drew quits councils amid 'broken' relationship with regional Labour". Gloucestershire Live. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
- ^ Limbu, Dawn; Garcia, Carmelo (2 May 2025). "Lib Dems win in Gloucestershire as Tories lose seats". BBC News. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
- ^ Garcia, Carmelo (12 May 2025). "Shire Hall on course for Liberal Democrat minority administration with Labour chairman". Gloucestershire Live. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
- ^ "Council minutes, 21 May 2025". Gloucestershire County Council. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
- ^ "Gloucestershire election result - Local Elections 2025". BBC News. Retrieved 2025-05-02.
- ^ "Election of a county councillor for the All Saints and Oakley electoral division". Cheltenham Borough Council. 2 April 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ "Election of a county councillor for the Battledown and Charlton Kings electoral division". Cheltenham Borough Council. 2 April 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ "Election of a county councillor for the Benhall and Up Hatherley electoral division". Cheltenham Borough Council. 2 April 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ "Election of a county councillor for the Charlton Park and College electoral division". Cheltenham Borough Council. 2 April 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ "Election of a county councillor for the Hesters Way and Springbank electoral division". Cheltenham Borough Council. 2 April 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ "Election of a county councillor for the Lansdown and Park electoral division". Cheltenham Borough Council. 2 April 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ "Election of a county councillor for the Leckhampton and Warden Hill electoral division". Cheltenham Borough Council. 2 April 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ "Election of a county councillor for the Pittville and St Paul's electoral division". Cheltenham Borough Council. 2 April 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ "Election of a county councillor for the Prestbury and Swindon Village electoral division". Cheltenham Borough Council. 2 April 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ "Election of a county councillor for the St Mark's and St Peter's electoral division". Cheltenham Borough Council. 2 April 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Statement of Persons Nominated County Council Elections 1 May 2025" (PDF). Cotswold District Council. 2 April 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated for election as a County Councillor for Blakeney and Bream Division" (PDF). Forest of Dean District Council. 2 April 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated for election as a County Councillor for Cindeford Division" (PDF). Forest of Dean District Council. 2 April 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated for election as a County Councillor for Coleford Division" (PDF). Forest of Dean District Council. 2 April 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated for election as a County Councillor for Drybrook and Lydbrook Division" (PDF). Forest of Dean District Council. 2 April 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated for election as a County Councillor for Lydney Division" (PDF). Forest of Dean District Council. 2 April 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated for election as a County Councillor for Mitcheldean Division" (PDF). Forest of Dean District Council. 2 April 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated for election as a County Councillor for Newent Division" (PDF). Forest of Dean District Council. 2 April 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated for election as a County Councillor for Sedbury Division" (PDF). Forest of Dean District Council. 2 April 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated – Election of a Councillor to Gloucestershire County Council for Abbey Division" (PDF). Gloucester City Council. 2 April 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated – Election of a Councillor to Gloucestershire County Council for Barnwood and Hucclecote Division" (PDF). Gloucester City Council. 2 April 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ "Election results for Gloucester: Barnwood and Hucclecote". Gloucester City Council. 2 May 2025. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
- ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated – Election of a Councillor to Gloucestershire County Council for Barton and Tredworth Division" (PDF). Gloucester City Council. 2 April 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ "Election results for Gloucester: Barton and Tredworth". Gloucester City Council. 2 May 2025. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
- ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated – Election of a Councillor to Gloucestershire County Council for Coney Hill and Matson Division" (PDF). Gloucester City Council. 2 April 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ "Election results for Gloucester: Coney Hill and Matson Division". Gloucester City Council. 2 May 2025. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
- ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated – Election of a Councillor to Gloucestershire County Council for Grange and Kingsway Division" (PDF). Gloucester City Council. 2 April 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ "Election results for Gloucester: Grange and Kingsway". Gloucester City Council. 2 May 2025. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
- ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated – Election of a Councillor to Gloucestershire County Council for Hempsted and Westgate Division" (PDF). Gloucester City Council. 2 April 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ "Election results for Gloucester: Hempsted and Westgate Division". Gloucester City Council. 2 May 2025. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
- ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated – Election of a Councillor to Gloucestershire County Council for Kingsholm and Wotton Division" (PDF). Gloucester City Council. 2 April 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ "Election results for Gloucester: Kingsholm and Wotton Division". Gloucester City Council. 2 May 2025. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
- ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated – Election of a Councillor to Gloucestershire County Council for Longlevens Division" (PDF). Gloucester City Council. 2 April 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ "Election results for Gloucester: Longlevens". Gloucester City Council. 2 May 2025. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
- ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated – Election of a Councillor to Gloucestershire County Council for Quedgeley Division" (PDF). Gloucester City Council. 2 April 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ "Election results for Gloucester: Quedgeley". Gloucester City Council. 2 May 2025. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
- ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated – Election of a Councillor to Gloucestershire County Council for Tuffley and Moreland Division" (PDF). Gloucester City Council. 2 April 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated – Election of a County Councillor for Bisley & Painswick Division" (PDF). Stroud District Council. 2 April 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated – Election of a County Councillor for Cam Valley Division" (PDF). Stroud District Council. 2 April 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated – Election of a County Councillor for Dursley Division" (PDF). Stroud District Council. 2 April 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated – Election of a County Councillor for Hardwicke & Severn Division" (PDF). Stroud District Council. 2 April 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ "Election results for Stroud: Hardwicke & Severn, 1 May 2025". Gloucestershire County Council. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
- ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated – Election of a County Councillor for Haresfield & Upton St Leonards Division" (PDF). Stroud District Council. 2 April 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ "Election results for Stroud: Haresfield & Upton St Leonards, 1 May 2025". Gloucestershire County Council. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
- ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated – Election of a County Councillor for Minchinhampton Division" (PDF). Stroud District Council. 2 April 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ "Election results for Stroud: Minchinhampton, 1 May 2025". Gloucestershire County Council. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
- ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated – Election of a County Councillor for Nailsworth Division" (PDF). Stroud District Council. 2 April 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ "Election results for Stroud: Nailsworth, 1 May 2025". Gloucestershire County Council. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
- ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated – Election of a County Councillor for Rodborough Division" (PDF). Stroud District Council. 2 April 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ "Election results for Stroud: Rodborough, 1 May 2025". Gloucestershire County Council. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
- ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated – Election of a County Councillor for Stonehouse Division" (PDF). Stroud District Council. 2 April 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ "Election results for Stroud: Stonehouse, 1 May 2025". Gloucestershire County Council. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
- ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated – Election of a County Councillor for Stroud Central Division" (PDF). Stroud District Council. 2 April 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ "Election results for Stroud: Stroud Central, 1 May 2025". Gloucestershire County Council. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
- ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated – Election of a County Councillor for Wotton-under-Edge Division" (PDF). Stroud District Council. 2 April 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ "Election results for Stroud: Wotton-under-Edge, 1 May 2025". Gloucestershire County Council. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
- ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated – Gloucestershire County Council – Election of a Councillor Bishop's Cleeve Division" (PDF). Tewkesbury Borough Council. 3 April 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ "Election results for Tewkesbury: Bishop's Cleeve, 1 May 2025". Gloucestershire County Council. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
- ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated – Gloucestershire County Council – Election of a Councillor Brockworth Division" (PDF). Tewkesbury Borough Council. 3 April 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ "Election results for Tewkesbury: Brockworth, 1 May 2025". Gloucestershire County Council. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
- ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated – Gloucestershire County Council – Election of a Councillor Churchdown Division" (PDF). Tewkesbury Borough Council. 3 April 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ "Election results for Tewkesbury: Churchdown, 1 May 2025". Gloucestershire County Council. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
- ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated – Gloucestershire County Council – Election of a Councillor Highnam Division" (PDF). Tewkesbury Borough Council. 3 April 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ "Election results for Tewkesbury: Highnam, 1 May 2025". Gloucestershire County Council. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
- ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated – Gloucestershire County Council – Election of a Councillor Severn Vale Division" (PDF). Tewkesbury Borough Council. 3 April 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ "Election results for Tewkesbury: Severn Vale, 1 May 2025". Gloucestershire County Council. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
- ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated – Gloucestershire County Council – Election of a Councillor Tewkesbury East Division" (PDF). Tewkesbury Borough Council. 3 April 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ "Election results for Tewkesbury: Tewkesbury East, 1 May 2025". Gloucestershire County Council. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
- ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated – Gloucestershire County Council – Election of a Councillor Tewkesbury West Division" (PDF). Tewkesbury Borough Council. 3 April 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ "Election results for Tewkesbury: Tewkesbury West, 1 May 2025". Gloucestershire County Council. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
- ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated – Gloucestershire County Council – Election of a Councillor Winchcombe & Woodmancote Division" (PDF). Tewkesbury Borough Council. 3 April 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ "Election results for Tewkesbury: Winchcombe and Woodmancote, 1 May 2025". Gloucestershire County Council. Retrieved 3 May 2025.